Radio apparatus of replaceable standardized units



Aug. 10, 1948. G. E. GREENE RADIO APPARATUS OF REPLACEABLE STANDARDIZED UNITS 2 Sheets-Sinaai'l l Filed April 27, 1945 INVENTORT GEORGE B. GREENE.

ArroRA/E Vs.

Aug. 10, 1948. G. B. GREENE RADIO APPARATUS OF REPLACEABLE STANDARDIZD UNITS Filed April 27, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR, GEORGE B. GREENE.

BY #94M j.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 10, 1948 RADIO APPARATUS OF REPLACEABLE STANDARDIZED UNITS George B. Greene, Los Angeles, Calif., assigner to Leo M. Harvey, La. Canada, Calif.

Application April 27, 1943, Serial No. 484,789

7 Claims. 1

My invention relates to radio apparatus and has for its objects:

(l) To provide novel and improved radio apparatus of replaceable standardized units.

(2) To provide novel and improved radio apparatus permitting of considerable flexibility in the matter of circuit assembly.

(3) To provide novel and improved radio apparatus of standardized units capable of being assembled into different circuit assemblies, each adapted for a widely different purpose.

(4) To provide novel and improved radio apparatus capable of quick repair in the field through the replacement of standardized stage units, in addition to being readily convertible to apparatus of different types.

(5) To provide novel and improved radio apparatus protected against destruction of insulation by rodents.

(6) To provide novel and improved radio apparatus in which the Wiring has been reduced in amount to about 5% of that normally required in comparable apparatus of prior art design.

(7) To provide novel and improved radio apparatus in which the lead lengths have been reduced to a minimum, thereby correspondingly reducing undesired interlead coupling and stray capacities.

(8) To provide novel and improved radio apparatus wherein undesired electrostatic feedback coupling between the plate winding of a radio frequency stage and the remainder of the stage to which it electrically belongs, is substantially eliminated.

(9) To provide novel and improved radio apparatus units of standardized design and construction adaptable for assembly into radio apparatus of divers types and power requirements.

(l0) To provide novel and improved radio apparatus units of standardized design and construction adaptable for assembly into radio apparatus of divers types without involving the soldering or joining of leads.

' (10a.) To provide novel and improved radio apparatus wherein undesired wiring and bandswitch capacitance is minimized, to increase the L./C. ratios, sensitivity and selectivity.

(11) To provide novel and improved radio apparatus for selective wave band operation.

(l2) To provide novel and improved radio apparatus of rugged construction and involving simplicity of operation and control.

Additional objects of my invention will be brought out in the following description thereof 2 taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of a unit adapted for application as a tunable radio frequency stage including frequency band selection.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same unit, as viewed from the other side.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a rear end View of a turret coil assembly incorporated in the unit of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective, illustrating the manner of assembling a plurality of units to form a radio receiver or the like.

In general, my invention resides in the construction of radio apparatus from standardized stage units, and in the details and features of such units which permit of the assembling thereof to provide such apparatus. These units are similar in construction, have many important features in common, though differing slightly in certain respects depending on their intended use in the apparatus, that is whether they are to constitute radio frequency stages, intermediate frequency stages as in a super heterodyne circuit, audio frequency stages, etc. Each unit carries radio apparatus essential to a complete stage, though where transformer coupling is employed between stages, such stages are electrically split up between units by placing the coupling transformer in the following stage unit. This has been found to produce certain advantages which will be discussed more in detail in the following description of a preferred form of my invention.

Referring to Fig. 1 of my drawings, I have illustrated therein a unit l adapted for operation in a radio frequency stage of a receiver. In common with all other units, it comprises a preferably sheet metal container 9 having a top wall I i, bottom wall I3, front and rear end walls Il and I5 respectively, and a. side wall I9, the container being preferably open opposite the side wall.

The front end wall is preferably divided into two sections 20 and 2l respectively with the opposing edges tuined inwardly to provide a gap. This gap is substantially spanned by a terminal panel 23 of insulating material, carrying a plurality oi terminal posts 25 extending outwardly therefrom. These terminal posts are preferably of the pin type having split ends and are arranged in pairs, thereby adapting the panel 23 for the external mounting of resistors 2l and fixed condensers 29 of commercial types, having extending end connections adapted to t the split ends of the terminals 25 to which they may be soldered if desired. Inasmuch as each stage of a conventional radio receiving circuit or like circuit calls for a plurality of such resistors and condensers to function as leaks, by-pass and filter elements, the panel thus offers a convenient mounting for these elements, Where they will be exposed tothe cooling effect of the external atmosphere, as Well as being readily accessible for replacement, should any of them go bad.

Each container is further provided with a contact strip 3| along the side wall I9 adjacent the panel 23 carried by the front end wall, this strip carrying insulated pin jacket fittings or-contacts 33 exposed to openings i9 through the side Wall I9. These openings I9 are adapted to receive a plurality of bus bars 35 which effect electrical engagement with the exposed contactsfand with proper potentials applied to these bus bars the bus bars provide means within the container from which the necessary operating potential maybe obtained. In this connection, it 4isimportan't to note that the bus bars 35 are lectin-anyway permanently connected Yto any Vof the circuit elements, each connection being merely a friction'al engagement with one of the contactsn` exposed to the openings in the side walLthe connections to theicircuit elements'being through short leads, not shown, from the circuit elements to the contacts.

The tubes v3l employed in the various stages of the apparatus prefer to mount on the upper wall II externally of the container, and for this purposeprovide a tube socket or sockets 39 as the case may be, through openings in the top Wall and affix the sockets in lthis position, with the socket connections belowthe to-p wall'within the container.

Onthe side walLinprcximity to the tube socket 39, there is mounted a pair of insulated contacts or pin jacket fittings il exposedto openings provided in the side Wal-l i9. At'the open'side ofthe container and in alignment with the last mentioned openings and contacts fil, there is mounted a strip of insulation/l carrying a pair of plugin terminals #i5 adapted to register with the corresponding'openings and contacts :ii ofanV adjacently dispo-sed container of similar construction.

These parti-cular connections constitute the means for carrying the plate circuit of a tube into the next adjacent unit, and are of particular importance in connection with transformer coupled stages, in which case the transformer is prefer ably placed 4in theunit following that of the tube which feeds it. When arranged thusly, the tube and its input circuit are shielded from the transformer by the intervening side wall and the enclosing top, bottom and end walls, whereby feedback throughcapacitance and inductance coupling is avoided.

The above described stage unit, when adapted for application as a tunable radio frequency stage will have mounted in the top Wall thereof a tunable condenser section lll', the shaft de of which at one end is formed with a slot or groove 5l while the other end will be shaped to provide a complementary key 53 adapted to t the correspcnding slot or groove of an adjacent condenser section, whereby a series of condenser sections may. be coupled to form a gang condenser, controllable from any suitable adjusting mechanism 5'5 mounted on a suitable panel 57 and effecting engagement with the exposed end of the shaft of the Afirst condenser section of the gang. Thus, where a particular apparatus calls for a plurality of radio frequency stages, the proper number of condenser sections will automatically take care of itself,

The radio frequency transformer is preferably mounted within the unit, and for selective operation within any one of a plurality of frequency bands, provide a turret coil assembly 59 comprising a plurality of tubular coil forms 6I of molded plastic supported radial from a preferably hollow metallic core S3. Each form terminates `in a square end @5 each of two opposite sides of which carry a pair of coil terminals 61 and 69 respectively. OneV pair constitutes the terminals for a winding 'il of one frequency band transformer, which winding is Wound on the associated Coil form. The remaining pair constitute the terminals of the associated Winding I3 illustrated as ,a pancake type Winding carried on a plastic core mountedron the coil form 6 I, the leads being preferably carried through the coil form wall to the coil terminals. Trimmer condensers 'I4 may also be lincluded and connected inthe conventional manner.

One end of the turret assembly core -VE53 has affixed thereto a disc I5 formedwith a plurality of spaced peripheral notches -l'I equal in number to the number of coil forms in the assembly. The other end of the assembly core is provided with-a lip le, breached to receive Ya flat sided control shaft 8 l.

A hollow trunnion-83 extending into thecontainer from the side Wall 'I9 constitutes a support on which the turret coil assembly 59 may be rotatably mounted, the assembly being mounted thereon with the lnotched disc A'I5A adjacent the side wall,

Each terminal end of the coil forms -6I is adapted to rotate Abetween the ends E5 and 81 respectively of a contact block 89 in which are disposed spring contacts 9| simultaneously engageable .by thecoilterminals 61 andi!! carried by the .coil forms. Proper engagement of contacts withrthe coil terminals isassured by a spring 93 mounted on the side wall I9 With oneendriding the .periphery of the Ydisc I5 under pressure, the spring being disposed to engage a peripheral notch Tl at the proper timetohold the assembly against unprovoked shifting.

The contact block 89 is preferably -located in the region of the tube socket 39 andcontact ystrip 3l, thus concentrating essentially allconnectlons to reduce lead lengths to a minimum, thereby not only conserving materials and space, but at the same time eliminating the undesiredwinterlead capacity and coupling associated with the use of long leads. No` attempt has been made to illustrate leads rer connections, .as they would merely serve to vconfuse the showing .of the lstructural features and relationships .wherein applicants invention lies. Y

It will be apparent from the above, thata plurality of turret coil ,assemblies `5i! are .capablaof actuation simultaneously from a common `control shaft, whereby the frequency band of a receiver or the like maybe quickly changedlatxwill torsuit the desires of an operator.

YWhen necessary a radio frequency unitmaybe provided with an insulated antenna terminal .post 94 on the rear Wall I5 of the container.l

Of course, the contents of a stage unit adapted for intermediate frequency operation, as in a superheterodyne circuit, will differ fromthe contents of one adapted for use asa tunable radio frequency stage, and likewise with a unit adapted for operation as an audio frequency amplifier. In lieu of a turret coil assembly, an intermediate frequency stage will employ an intermediate frequency transformer 91 (Fig. 5) and an audio frequency stage might include an impedance matching output transformer (not illustrated) within a unit container.

A unit may also be adapted for power supply purposes, in which case the power transformer 89 might be mounted on the top wall along with the rectiiier tube, and all the filter components might be supported within the container. In this unit,l the operating voltages could be developed and applied to the bus bars 35 by way of the contacts or pin jacket ttings 33.

In assembling apparatus from such units, the units are strung on the bus bars 35 in proper sequence, preferably starting with the power supply unit at one end, then the audio amplifiers and intermediate frequency amplifiers and ending up with the radio frequency amplier stages, to which the control panel 5l may be added, The assembly is then bound into a rigid, unitary assembly by tie rods lill extending lengthwise thereof through corner openings ID3 provided for the purpose. Corner gussets may be added in the open side of each unit to enhance the rigidity of the assembly.

The bus bars 35 preferably terminate in insulated finger grips IM to facilitate the insertion of the bus bars through the various units.

With units of the above character prefabricated and available, it becomes a relatively simple matter to assemble any one of a number of diierent types of apparatus such as tuned radio frequency receivers, superheterodyne receivers, etc., in addition to employing such units in the assembling of apparatus such as aircraft automatic direction finders, homing devices, and combined duplex automatic direction finder and automatic pilot.

The invention further permits of the assembling of such units into apparatus of any one of a wide range of power requirements thereby rendering the invention applicable from the relatively low power scout car receiver for police work to the more powerful apparatus for aircraft work.

Disabled apparatus, furthermore, may readily be placed back in service by operators or others having little experience or background in radio, merely by the replacement of a damaged stage unit with a good one, and this becomes of prime importance in war activity where so much depends on the maintenance of communication lines.

Thus, it will be apparent that I have provided means for carrying out the objects of my invention, and while I have described a preferred embodiment of the same in considerable detail, the same is subject to alteration without departing from the principles of the invention. I accordingly do not desire to be limited in my protection to the specic details disclosed except as may be necessitated by the appended claims l. Radio apparatus comprising a plurality of replaceable individual cell units, each including a container having a side wall and an end wall provided wtih a gap therein, a terminal strip on said side wall having a plurality of contacts exposed in openings through said side wall, a terminal panel bridging the gap in said end wall and carrying a plurality of pairs of aligned split-end terminal posts extending outwardly therefrom, and circuit elements carried by said container and connectible to said contacts; a plurality of tie bolts binding said individual cell units into a unitary assembly; and a plurality of bus bars extending through the openings in said side walls and contacting the corresponding contacts of said cell units. Y

2. Radio apparatus comprising' a plurality of replaceable individual cell units, each including a container having a side wall, a terminal strip on said side wall having a plurality of contacts exposed in openings through said side wall, and circuit elements carried by said container and connectible to said contacts, one of said circuit elements constituting a variable gang condenser section including a horizontal shaft having one end grooved and its other end terminating in a key shaped to fit the corresponding groove of an adjacent similar condenser section; means binding said individual cell units into a unitary assembly with said variable gang condensersection shafts keyed one to another to forma variable gang condenser; and a plurality of bus bars extending through the openings in said side walls and contacting the corresponding contacts ofsaid cellunits. i

3. A replaceable cell unit for radio apparatus comprising a metallic container having a top wall, a side wall, and a front end wall provided with a gap therein, said container being open opposite said side wall; a terminal panel bridging the gap in said front end wall and carrying a plurality of terminals exposed outwardly therefrom; and a terminal strip supported on said side wall adjacent said front end wall and having contacts exposed in openings through said side wall, said openings permitting of the insertion of bus bars through a plurality of such containers in alignment.

4. A replaceable cell unit for radio apparatus comprising a metallic container having a top wall, a side wall and a front end wall provided with a gap therein, said container being open opposite said side wall, a hollow trunnion extending interiorly of said container from said side wall and adapted to mount a turret coil assembly; a terminal panel bridging the gap in said front end wall and carrying a plurality of pairs of aligned split-end terminal posts extending outwardly therefrom; and a terminal strip supported on said side wall adjacent said front end wall and having contacts exposed in openings through said side wall, said openings permitting of the insertion of bus bars through a plurality of such containers in alignment.

5. A replaceable cell unit for radio apparatus comprising a metallic container having a top wall, a side wall and a front end wall provided with a gap therein, said container being open opposite said side wall; a terminal panel bridging the gap in said front end wall and carrying a plurality of pairs of aligned terminals exposed outwardly therefrom; a terminal strip supported on said side wall adjacent said front end Wall and having contacts exposed in openings through said side wall; and a tube socket on the top wall of said container.

6. A replaceable cell unit for radio apparatus comprising a metallic container having a top wall, a side wall, and a front end Wall provided with a gap therein, said container being open opposite said side wall; a hollow trunnion extending interiorly of said container from said side wall; a terminal panel bridging the gap in said front end wall and carrying a plurality of pairs of aligned split-end terminal posts extending outwardly therefrom; a terminal strip supported on said side Wall adjacent said front end Wall and having contacts exposed in openings 'ithroughfsaid Aside wall; .anda turret coil `assem- "comprising a metallic container having a top wa-11,2. side wall anda front end Wall provided with afgap therein, said container being open u:opposite said side wall, a hollow trunnion-ex- `,tending interiorly of said container from said side rwallpa terminal panel bridging the gap in saidfront yend wall and carrying a plurality of pairs of aligned split-end terminal posts extend- :in -g outwardly therefrom; a terminal strip supllborteclfonfsaid side .wall adjacent said front-end l`.to t vthe corresponding groove of an adjacent similar condenser section; a turret coil vasserniblytrotatably mounted on said trunnion and a vcontact `block mounted in'said container in the '.pathaof rotationof said turret coil assembly.

GEORGE B. 'GREENE r8 REFERENCES 'CITE AThe following references vvare of record inthe ill-e of `this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number AName *Date 1,654,296 -Lewe fDec. 27, '11927 1,676;744 Pickard July 10,1928 1,949,137 lA-urynger Febf27, 1934 1,968,108 Wald Ju1y31,f1934 2,064,348 Kalenick D`ec. 115, 1936 2,078,908 Harrison A v Apr. '27, 1937 2,103,035 Lear 1 7 Dec.2`1,1937 2,185,562 Nielson v r Y.. -Jan.2, 1940 2,191,562 Flippa 1 1 Feb. 27, 1940 2,231,056 vDel/Basi: v v v -r Febjll, 1941 2,261,857 Novak etal. s Nov. 4, 1941 2,268,619 Reid 1 1 V .-Jan.16, i942 FOREIGNTATENTS Number Country 'Date 232,314 Great Britainllpr. 14,1925 322,244 V(Straat Britain. Dec; 5, 1929 '273,925 'GreatBritain July .'14y 1927 486,666 vGreat Britain `.lune 8, 1938 635,781 France Jan. 3, .1928 

